Leiston area guide - Suffolk

The village of Leiston is situated in a beautiful part of Suffolk and only a short drive away from the coastal resort of Thorpeness. The area is steeped in history and close by are the romantic ruins of 14th Century Leiston Abbey. In the village sits the medieval parish church with a well preserved tower and an unusual 13th centry hexagonal font.

Steam power was pioneered in the area and Leiston village was once well known for the building of traction engines and road rollers, an exhibition of which can be seen in the Long Shop Museum.

Long Shop Museum – Industrial museum housed in the works of Richard Garrett, a firm founded in 1778 and which progressed over nearly 200 years from agricultural implements through traction engines, steam rollers and steam wagons to electric vehicles and trolleybuses. The Long Shop, built in 1852, is one of the earliest examples of production line manufacture. Open Apr-Oct M-Sa 10-5 Su 11-5 01728 832189 www.longshop.care4free.net

Thorpeness Windmill – Working windmill. Exhibition about the mill. Open Est & May–Sept W/Es M-F July to Aug 2-5 01394384948